India, Turkmenistan look to expand North-South Transport Corridor

NEW DELHI: India and Turkmenistan will explore the possibility of expanding the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) by linking it to the Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran rail link.

This was decided at the the 13th meeting of the India-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC). From the Indian side Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas and Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Dharmendra Pradhan led a delegation to Astana, Kazakhstan. Pradhan was the co-chair at the meeting and the Minister of Energy of Republic of Kazakhstan, Kanat Bozumbayev, co-chaired the meeting from Kazakh side.

In an official statement, the Government said that INSTC has already become operational by agreeing to conduct a dry run feasibility study on the railway link.